Question reference: S6W-01909
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 27 July 2021
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Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 20 August 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many off-gas grid homes it estimates are not suitable for the installation of heat pumps, and what its position is on what alternative low-carbon heating systems they are able to install.
Answer
On the 22 December 2020, the Scottish Government published research that assessed the suitability of low carbon heating technologies in residential buildings in Scotland. It found that , of the 507,000 homes off the gas network, around 105,000 would require a low carbon heating technology other than a heat pump.
Table 1: Number of homes located away from the gas grid, not suitable for heat pump technologies,
Current housing stock | |
Homes located away from the gas grid | 507,000 |
Of which: Not suitable for a heat pump | 105,000 |
The draft Heat in Buildings Strategy, published in February 2021, identifies heat pumps and heat networks as strategic heating technologies that are ready for deployment but also recognises that other technologies may also have a role including biomass and biofuels such as bioLPG and renewable replacements for heating oil, electric storage heating (electric resistive heating) and hybrid systems. It will be important that any biomass or biofuels used for heating are from sustainable sources.
Homes located away from the gas grid are defined as homes in areas not deemed to be served by the gas network.
The report is available at this link: https://www.gov.scot/publications/technical-feasibility-low-carbon-heating-domestic-buildings-report-scottish-governments-directorate-energy-climate-change .